Will Brits be forced to pay to visit Europe after Brexit?

British tourists could be forced to pay to visit Europe after Brexit in a move similar to the US-style visa waiver system.

Immigration minister Robert Goodwill said the EU was considering adopting a version of the USA's Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) but it was too soon to know if this will apply to UK residents after Brexit.

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The ESTA costs £11 and allows British visitors to go to the US for less than 90 days without a visa.

Speaking to the Independent, Mr Goodwill said: "We are at a very early stage of the EU potential scheme and we will see how that develops.

"British people are now used to the US ESTA scheme and, therefore, we view with interest how the European scheme might develop and what similarities, and differences, there may be to the US scheme."

According to the Telegraph, he added: "In principle, this type of scheme is generally there to help enhance security. To get to know as much as possible about the people who are intending to travel.

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"It isn't just flights, it could be people using ferries, or other border crossings into the European Union.

"We will not be members of the European Union and it will be impossible, I think, at this early stage to speculate on the effect this might have on British citizens or other third country nationals."

Alan Brown, an SNP member of the European Scrutiny Committee, highlighted that Leave advocates in the referendum campaign had said there would be no need for visa-like travel schemes after Brexit.

He said: "An ESTA still takes time and costs money and it is something people have to repeat."

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